Signaling device



March 2, 1937, W E, PATCH 2,072,313

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 4, 1934 afi/@7 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES kATENT FFIQE SIGNALING DEVICE Application April 4, 1934, Serial No. 719,051

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a signaling device in which a motor or actuator is mounted upon a case member to project from one side thereof and is inclosed in a U-shaped cap or cover member which is removably secured in place.

The manner of securing the cover member in place in structures of the above-mentioned class has heretofore comprised in providing a V-shaped strap or bracket adapted to be contained within the cover member and to span the actuating mechanism projecting therefrom. This bracket was secured to the case member by utilizing the bolts or screws which secured the case member to 15 other elements of the device by passing said screws through holes provided in either end of th bracket, while the capi or cover member was secured to the bracket by a screw passing through the central portion of the cover member and 20 screw-threaded into the bracket.

This structure necessitated the securing of the bracket to the case during the assembling of the case with other members of the device with the result that the bracket interfered with suc- 25 ceeding assembling operations, and also with the adjustment of the actuator members after the assembling was completed to obtain the proper functioning of the apparatus particularly in View of the fact that it was necessary the bracket 30 extend over the motor substantially diametrically of the case.

Further, it was frequently found that in tightening the cover in place after adjusting the horn, the pressure of the cover o-n the bracket and the 35 case resulted in disturbing the adjustment and distorting the tone of the horn.

The main object of this invention is to provide a signaling device of the above-mentioned class with a novel retaining bracket for the motor cap 40 or cover member which may be readily secured to a supporting member or removed therefrom independently of the motor or securing means for the motor or said supporting member whereby the ,y above-mentioned deficiency is overcome.

Other objects and advantages relating to the detail of the structure and the form, arrangement and association of the parts thereof will more fully appear from the following description taken o in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:- y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cap-retaining bracket.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation andpartly in section, of a signaling deviceL with my novel cap-retaining bracket mounted therein.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a signaling device with certain portions thereof broken away and in section, illustrating a modified form of my cap-retaining bracket.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the modified form of retaining bracket illustrated in Figure 4.

The signaling device illustrated in the drawing is ay magnetically operated diaphragm type of well known construction, and comprises a pressed metal rear diaphragm case section S formed with an annular marginal flange portion l, and a central portion 8 offset from the flange portion l and connected therewith by a substantially cylindrical wall 9.

A diaphragm I0 is mounted adjacent the outer face of the case 6 between said case and an outer diaphragm case Il which may have, as shown, an elongated projector l2 connected therewith. The inner case t, diaphragm ill and outer case il are tightly and rigidly secured or clamped together by bolts I3 which pass through alined openings provided in the flange 1 of the case 6, the diaphragm it and case Il, and by nuts I screw-threaded on the ends of the bolts i3. The case 6 has its central portion provided with an opening for the reception of the magnet or magnetic field I6 which may be of any suitable construction.

As shown in the drawing, however, the magnet or magnetic i-leld it comprises a frame l1 composed preferably of laminated strips of steel or other suitable material secured together and provided at opposite ends thereof with outwardly extending lugs or arms Il contacting with the upper surface of the case 6 and secured thereto by rivets i8 or their equivalent, and a i'leld coil lt positioned in suitable inwardly extending recesses provided in the upper face of the frame l1.

The diaphragm lil is provided with a central opening surrounded by a re-enforcing internally threaded ring or collar 2i permanently and rigidly secured to the diaphragm adjacent said opening and has a sleeve 22 provided with an externally threaded portion adjacent one end thereof screvvthreaded in the threaded aperture of the collar 2l. The sleeve 22 extends outwardly a short distance beyond the collar 2l and has a resonator as 23 mounted thereon and adapted to form a convenient means by which the sleeve 22 may be rotated for adjusting the sleeve relative to the diaphragm iB. The sleeve 22 extends inwardly some distance beyond the diaphragm i@ through a suitable aperture provided in the magnet frame l1, and has the inner end thereof of spherical shape and seated tightly in a substantially similar spherical shaped recess provided in the adjacent side of the armature 25 positioned adjacent the side of the frame i1 opposite to that at which the diaphragm lil is located.

The armature 25 is preferably composed of laminated strips of metal secured together in any well known manner and is provided in the outer face thereof with a flat recess of circular form in which is seated a washer 26. The washer 26 projects outwardly beyond the adjacent surface of the armature and has its outer surface thereof curved or formed spherical for contacting with a similarly curved recess provided in the adjacent side of a plate 21 positioned adjacent the inner face of a fiat spring member 28 which is secured at its outer end to a laminated or built-up pedestal or support 23 secured to the central portion 8 of the case 5 adjacent one side of the magnet frame l1.

The sleeve 22, armature 25, washer 2S, plate 21, and the spring member 8 are clamped together by means of a bolt Si! which extends through these members with the head 3| thereof positioned adjacent the member 23 and preferably spaced therefrom by a washer 32, and has the other end thereof threaded as at 33 and having screw threaded engagement with a nut 34 positioned adjacent the opposite side of the spring member 2S to that at which the plate 21 is located.

The extreme outer end portion of the bolt 30 is reduced in diameter as at 35 and externally threaded for the reception of a nut 35 mounted thereon for engagement with a spring Contact member 31 which is secured to the support 29 in insulated relation thereto.

The spring contact member 51 is adapted to have electrical connection with a contact 38 which, in this instance, comprises a screw threaded in the outer end of a rigid bar 39 which is also secured to the support 29 in insulated relation thereto. The nut 3G is locked in the adjusted position in contact with the inner end of the spring contact member by means of the lock nut 4Q.

It will now be understood that the device thus far described is of conventional structure wherein the armature 25 and spring member 23 may be adjusted relative to the magnet iii and diaphragm lil by the manipulation of the sleeve 22 and bolt 5G.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the Contact members 31 and SB may be adjusted relative to each other in the usual manner by screwing the screw member 38 through the bar 39 to make and break the circuit for energizing and de-energizing the magnet Hi.

A cup-shaped cap or cover member 42 adapted to inclose the actuator just described is formed as shown in Figur-e 2, with a major central portion 43 spherical in outline having an enlarged annular flanged portion 44 in the outer edge thereof adapted to closely fit about the margin of the ilange '5 and which, in this instance, engages the adjacent face of the diaphragm case member Il which is of slightly greater diameter than that of the flange portion 1 to provide an abutting shoulder for the marginal edge of the cover member 42 as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

In order that the cover member 42 may be quickly and easily secured in the operative position or removed therefrom, I have provided said cover member with an aperture in the wall of the central portion 43 of said member at the center thereof adapted to receive a screw 45 therethrough adapted to have threaded engagement with my novel cap-retaining bracket 41. This bracket, as illustrated in Figures l and 2, is substantially a V-shaped member having the apex thereof provided with a hat portion 48 which is provided with a centrally located threaded aperture 49 adapted to receive screw 46 therein.

Each of the sides or arms 50 of the bracket 41 is provided with slots 5| extending inwardly from opposite sides thereof in slightly spaced relation to the outer ends of the arms.

The central portion 8 of the inner diaphragm case 6 is provided with a pair of T-slots 52 arranged at diametrically opposite sides thereof intermediate the magnet frame l1 and the outer edge of said portion. These slots 52 are arranged in opposed relation with the head portion as 52 thereof of slightly greater length than the width of the arms 50 of the bracket 41 to readily receive said arms therethrough.

Extending inwardly from each head portion 52' is a narrower portion 52 of substantially the same Width as the distance between the inner ends of adjacent slots 5l of the bracket 41 so that after the ends of the bracket 41 have been inserted through the slots 52', said bracket will be locked to the case 6 as the arms thereof move into the reduced portion 52 of the slots 52 with the aperture 49 in alinement with the aperture provided in the cover member 42 for receiving the screw 46 therein.

The bracket 41 is constructed so that the outer ends of the arms 5!) are normally spaced apart a distance which is less than the distance between the slots 52 in the case 6 so that when it is desired to secure the bracket to the case 6, it is necessary to flex the arms 50 of the bracket outwardly to enter said arms through the head portions 52' of the slots, and as soon as the bridge portion 5I of each arm registers with the reduced portion 52" of the respective slots 52, said arms will be moved into said reduced portions of the slot by the inherent spring action of the bracket.

When it is desired to remove the bracket 41 from locking engagement with the case 6, it is obvious that it is only necessary to spring the arms 50 thereof outwardly to bring said arms out of engagement with the reduced portions 52 of the slots 52 into registration with the head potions 52 thereof, and then withdraw the bracket through the head portions 52 out of engagement with the case 6.

It will now be observed that inasmuch as the bracket 41 extends diametrically over the central portion of the armature 25 and the end of the bolt Sii from one side of the case G to the other side thereof, in order to properly and conveniently manipulate the nuts 35 and 355 and the contact screw 38 for obtaining the proper adjustment of the electrical contact members of which the screw 38 is a member and the adjustment of the armature 25 relative to the magnet I6 and diaphragm IB, it is necessary that the cover-retaining bracket 41 be removed from its operative position and that this may be quickly and easily accomplished, after the cover member 42 has been removed, by merely flexing the arms 5D of said bracket outwardly and withdrawing them from locking engagement with the cover 6 in the manner hereinbefore described.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modified form of my cover-retaining bracket. This bracket as 55 is a V.shaped member similar to the bracket 4l having a flattened portion as 56 at the apex thereof provided with a central threaded aperture 5l adapted to receive a screw 45 therein. The arms as 58 of the bracket extend outwardly from the attened portion 56 therein in diverging planes and have the outer end portions thereof provided with outwardly extending parallel portions 59 which terminate in inwardly projecting lateral portions 60.

The inner diaphragm case as 5 of the signaling device is constructed substantially in the same manner as that shown and described in Figure 2 with the exception that instead of the T-slots 52 being provided in the central portion 8 of the case, a pair of diametrically opposed slots 62 are provided in the cylindrical wall as 9 which connects the central portion as 8 of the case 6 with the marginal flange portion as 1 thereof.

The slots 62 are arranged in close proximity to the reduced portion 8 cf the case t' and are of suflicient length circumferentially to receive the end portion 60 of the bracket 55 therein. The arms 58 of the bracket 55 have the outer ends thereof normally spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the slots 62 so that in order to insert the ends 6b of the bracket in said slots, it is necessary to flex the arms 5S thereof outwardly so that when said ends register with the slots 62, they will be drawn into said slots by the spring action of the arms into holding engagement with the case 6.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown as various changes in the construction and form and relation of the parts thereof may be readily made without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a signaling device, the combination with a diaphragm and an actuating mechanism for vibrating said diaphragm, of a support for the diaphragm and actuating mechanism comprising a pair of case members, means for releasably fastening said case members and diaphragm to each other, one of said case members having the actuating mechanism mounted substantially centrally therewith to project outwardly from one side thereof, said latter case member being provided with a pair of spaced T-slots arranged one at either side of the actuating mechanism intermediate said mechanism and the fastening means, a cover co-acting with at least one of said case members for enclosing said actuating mechanism, a unitary resilient retaining bracket adapted to span said mechanism positioned within said cover, said bracket having a pair of spring arms normally spaced apart at their free ends a distance slightly less than the spacing of the T-slots, the Vouter ends of said arms being provided with T-heads formed integral therewith adapted to extend into said slots when the arms are sprung apart and engage the walls thereof for releasably securing the bracket to said case member, and means releasably connecting the cover to the bracket.

2. In a signaling device, the combination with a diaphragm and an actuating mechanism for vibrating said diaphragm, of a support for the diaphragm and actuating mechanism comprising a pair of case members, means for releasably fastening said case members and diaphragm to each other, one of said case members having the actuating mechanism mounted substantially centrally therewith to project outwardly from one side thereof, said latter case member having a flange portion positioned intermediate .said actuating mechanism and the fastening means and extending in substantially parallel relation with the axis of the mechanism, said flange portion being provided with apertures at opposite sides of the mechanism, a cover co-acting with at least one of said case members for enclosing said mechanism, a unitary resilient retaining bracket adapted to span said mechanism positioned within said cover, said bracket having a pair of spring arms provided with lateral projections formed integral with the free ends thereof adapted to extend into said flange apertures upon springing said arms relative to each other for releasably securing the bracket to said case member, and means releasably connecting the cover to the bracket.

3. In a signaling device, the combination with the diaphragm and an actuating mechanism for vibrating said diaphragm, of a support for the diaphragm and actuating mechanism, comprising a pair of case members, means for releasably fastening said case members and diaphragm to each other, one of said case members having the actuating mechanism mounted substantially centrally therewith to project upwardly from one side thereof, said latter case member being provided with a pair of spaced apertures arranged one at either side of the actuating mechanism intermediate said mechanism and the fastening means, a cover co-acting with at least one of said case members for enclosing said actuating mechanism, a unitary resilient retaining bracket adapted to span said mechanism positioned within said cover, said bracket including two pendant arm portions having the free ends thereof provided with integral holding elements adapted to extend into said apertures, the spacing of the apertures and the normal spacing apart of the holding elements being unequal, so that said bracket is placed under tension when the holding elements are inserted into said apertures whereby said elements are resiliently maintained in holding engagement with the walls of the apertures for releasably securing the bracket to said latter case member, and means releasably connecting the cover to the bracket.

WALLACE BERNARD PATCH. 

